Lack of traffic plan is frustrating road users

Perhaps now E&I should go the whole distance and implement the correct speed limits for our [mainly] urban island;

The majority of our roads would become 30mph as in the UK and indeed most of Europe.

A few major roads would become 40mph i.e. some of the coast roads and a few larger inland roads.

Denser ‘urban areas’ [Town, The Bridge, St Martin’s village centre etc.] and around schools plus the Ruettes Tranquilles would become 20mph.

The problem of having a ‘blanket 24hr 20mph limit’ around schools is that there is no school ‘activity’ for approx 6,000 hours of the 8,760 hours per calendar year, therefore a better option would be electronic speed limit signs posting the 20mph limit . . . if it was off, the limit would be 30mph unless it was already in a congested urban area and, of course, there’s always the option of a ‘manual override’ in case of special (evening/weekend) events etc. at schools.

On the subject of ‘filter in turns’ it would seem like common sense to make the approaches to a filter 20mph for a distance of 100 metres (from the centre), a ‘rumble’ strip and a painted limit on the road surface should suffice . . . no more poles please.

The users of the main L’Islet crossroads would certainly benefit from this becoming a ‘filter in turn’ with 20mph limit on the approach, certainly no need to make most of the Route du Picquerel 25mph.

The roads, lanes even, that Mr B. Brehaut pointed out as needing lower limits already in many ways are self-governing as any motorised user would need to be insane to be trying to do 30-35mph. You try to travel above 20-25mph in Ruette de la Tour, Les Traudes or many of the other 150 miles of ‘lanes’ and you are pretty much guaranteeing a collision when you meet another road user. Also most of the main roads are self-governing as all vehicles over two tons can only do 25mph and there are lots of them.

E&I would be much better off using their time and (the taxpayers’) resources in implementing the MOT test system as soon as possible for all vehicles, not just buses and taxis, and looking at retesting drivers (of any age) who are convicted of causing accidents.

The overall problem in Guernsey is the excessive number of vehicles on the road during the daytime and the lack of a traffic management plan, more ‘traffic calming’ measures just lead to more frustration for road users and more inconsiderate driving.

The plans are just a mix of ‘piecemeal bits and bobs’ and trying to fix what’s not broken in some respects.

A cohesive, comprehensive traffic management plan is needed for our island. The Vienna Traffic Convention has been legally adopted, so why not implement some international standards from it that are being used effectively around the world?

I think it is a misuse of due process and disingenuous of E&I to use a statutory instrument to bring about these changes for ‘Phase 1’ then say they are going to bring a policy letter to the States for ‘Phase 2’, so I recommend that E&I bring a policy letter to the Assembly on their whole traffic strategy so that it can be debated properly in the open.

STEVE FOSS,

Guillemont,

Braye Road,

Vale,

GY3 5QS.

P.S: Even though I live on the Braye Road I do not see any reason to change the speed limit – and certainly not below 30mph if there was to be an island-wide adjustment.